After the public outcry about the BNP appearing on the BBC’s Question Time programme, the public ought to know that they will be seeing a lot more of BNP politicians in the media if a Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system is introduced at Westminster.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats both favour introducing such a system if they are elected on May 6th. A PR system will proportionally represent all parties in the UK, not just the Liberal Democrats.

The BNP’s success at the 2009 European Parliamentary election was possible because they were elected on a PR system with only 6% of the vote. This has secured Nick Griffin an £82,000 salary, guaranteed entitlement to funding for his party and the right be heard on the TV, particularly the BBC.

The PR system also means that the British electorate will not be able to get rid of any party including the BNP, so long as they receive a notable percentage share of the vote. Britons in EU poll data show the greatest concern about immigration among any western EU country. Therefore, a party like the BNP that is clearly anti-immigration has, and will, benefit.

 In addition, PR will almost inevitably require a coalition of parties to form a majority government. Small parties like the BNP could act as kingmakers in contributing the few seats that are often needed to form majorities in PR governments. In return, this would force other parties in the coalition to take heed of the BNP’s policies to secure their votes.

There are current examples of far right parties in Europe that are part of coalition governments. For example, in Denmark where they have a PR system to elect their national government, the Danish People’s Party, a far right party, is part of the current governing coalition.

Equally, in the Netherlands, where again they have a PR system, Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party, (which wants to halt immigration from all‐non western countries, ban the Koran and deport any Muslim who breaks the law) has just performed well at their recent local elections and is expected to be part of the country’s next governing coalition, when elections are held in June.

The BNP already has two Members of the European Parliament and fifty councillors in the UK. Labour has moved to the centre to fight for middle class votes. As a result, it is widely acknowledged that they have alienated some of their traditional working class vote base, who have been forced to look for other sources of representation. The BNP has looked to capitalise on this underrepresentation.

The electorate’s revulsion at MPs expenses is understandable. However, a hung

parliament with a strong Lib Dem vote share will most likely lead to a change in

our electoral system to PR. Our current system is not perfect, many votes are

wasted, but it does normally form strong governments, while excluding small

parties like the BNP.

Under the electoral reform proposals, the BNP will be able to cement their existence in British politics and will have the right to expect media coverage and interviews, which in turn will help to spread their message. The electorate ought to keep that in mind on May 6th.